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^^ but the improvements above reflect a MASSIVE federal stimulus.. and even that had "lagging and inconsistent" positive impacts on the economy. We have tons of unnaturally low lending right now and, despite all of it, we're still struggling.

Not disagreeing that some things have been "ok" but it irritates me when I see people proclaiming that things "are great and improving and" blah blah blah

So you're basically just saying it was ok to campaign on complete bullcr@p. That's really unfortunate if so. Half the nation goes to the voting booth to support "hope and change" all based on empty promises.... and yet, those same people reelected the man.

So you're basically just saying it was ok to campaign on complete bullcr@p. That's really unfortunate if so. Half the nation goes to the voting booth to support "hope and change" all based on empty promises.... and yet, those same people reelected the man.

Let's be honest, the other half of the country goes and votes for the same damn thing as the other side does. You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

Let's be honest, the other half of the country goes and votes for the same damn thing as the other side does. You're kidding yourself if you think otherwise.

That doesn't make it a good thing, or something we should accept.

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“They have the guns and therefore we are for peace and for reformation through the ballot. When we have the guns then it will be through the bullet.” - Saul Alinsky, quoting Lenin

“I wanted [Jimmy] Carter in and I wanted [Ford] out,” comedian Chevy Chase would later admit of his mocking Ford impersonation on "Saturday Night Live", “and I figured look, we're reaching millions of people every weekend, why not do it."

You're 100% correct. Also, I think there is some merit in differentiating between something being branded as an outright lie, and something that represents a change of opinion or evolution of facts and data.

So you're basically just saying it was ok to campaign on complete bullcr@p. That's really unfortunate if so. Half the nation goes to the voting booth to support "hope and change" all based on empty promises.... and yet, those same people reelected the man.

I'm supposed to take Obama's word that he will cut spending? The same guy who said he would cut the deficit in half in 2008 campaign rhetoric

And said in 2006 that raising the debt ceiling is irresponsible and a sign our government cannot control it's spending.

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"My philosophy as a businessman has always been to take care of the people who make me successful. It has always been "we" in my business conversations with others. At a certain point in a successful business it behooves one to make sure those doing a good job of supporting you are not struggling to make ends meet."

It's funny and sad all at the same time when one considers how often politicians flip flop.

Republicans in the 90's loved what amounts to "Obamacare" today....the thing that they seem to despise more so than most other things. If it is "socialism" today, why wasn't it in the 90's?

Democrats were against the debt ceiling increase in 2006 whereas Republicans saw no big deal about the matter.

Pisses me off at how much they can lie/bend their words and not be held accountable.

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"My philosophy as a businessman has always been to take care of the people who make me successful. It has always been "we" in my business conversations with others. At a certain point in a successful business it behooves one to make sure those doing a good job of supporting you are not struggling to make ends meet."

A liberal friend of mine placed on Facebook after the election : "Obama Victory. Four more years of improvement!"

I didn't comment but was just thinking to myself : Unemployment, food stamps, GDP, average take home pay, deficit... where is the improvement in any of those?"

I'd far rather have the economy at the end of Obama's first term than that at the end of the previous (unnamed president and party) term. The slow pace of the economic recovery is a far more accurate indication of the depth and breadth of the damage inflicted upon the economy that was dumped onto Obama's lap, the worst since the Great Depression (and we just barely missed going into the Great Depression II). Oh, and not to mention two large wars that were being put on the credit card to the tune of several trillion dollars. Oh, that and irresponsible and reckless GOP obstructionism and brinksmanship have done nothing to foster economic stability, confidence or growth.

Think we're doing badly coming out of this economic collapse? Well, look at Europe and especially those countries that took the route of hard-core fiscal austerity as their prime means of recovery - as promulgated by the preferred method by the GOP here - such as England which is is now triple-dipping back into recession.

I would far rather take our modestly and steadily growing economy over what Obama inherited or that the austerity countries are now experiencing as it is better in both cases. What was the other side's alternative in the 2012 campaign? Essentially a return a steriodal version of the economic policies that first crashed the economy in the first place plus hard-austerity that has worked so horribly for the European countries. Didn't work so well then, didn't see why it would work any better now, and most Americans obviously agreed judging by the election results.

Your tips, like your segment of the service industry is highly regulated I'm assuming?

What about servers who are given tax as tips? My understanding is they typical declare about 25 percent of their cash tips and all of their credit card tips(obviously because they have to).

To an extent they are regulated, only in the aspect of we have to document total tips and how they are distributed (it's a pooled room). The days of claiming small percentages of actual to wages are over / ending, the IRS is very aware of the industry and how profitable it can be. You do have the option of opting out of the compliance in return you have a very high possibility of being audited. They base the compliance tax rate based off of restaurant revenue. ( assuming tipping is a consistent 15 to 18%}